Why Are So Many Kids Failing Math?
By Alex Kajitani

If you are a math teacher, like me, you know the conversation all too well. It usually goes something like this:

Them: It’s nice to meet you. What do you do for a living?

Me: I’m a math teacher.

Them: Oh, I hated math! Was never any good at it — so boring, and useless!

Me: (slightly flustered) Well, um, how ‘bout those Padres?

Most math teachers are tired of hearing about how awful people are at math, and many of us just don’t want to deal with this typical response to our profession. However, I’ve recently realized how this exact conversation can actually be a priceless opportunity to make a critical change in our nation’s math crisis.

Alex Kajitani, M.A., is known across the country as “The Rappin’ Mathematician” and teaches 8th grade math in Escondido, CA. Alex was recently named the 2007 Middle School Math Teacher of the Year for Greater San Diego. He also speaks nationally about “Making Math Cool.” His company, Math Raps, won RAPSA’s Making a Difference Award at this year’s national conference in San Diego. Check out www.MathRaps.com to hear some of his math rap songs!

Resources on the Web


Kathy Schrocks' Guide for Educators
Covering all disciplines, this guide includes a categorized list of useful websites for enhancing curriculum and professional growth. The site includes areas like Subject Access, which includes an extensive list of education resources, and Teacher Helpers.

GEM: Gateway to Educational Materials
GEM, a project of the U.S. Department of Education, is a consortium of over 400 education institutions, from schools to professional associations, providing access to Internet-based educational materials.

100 Best Books for Kids
This list was selected by the National Education Association, is posted on the TeachersFirst.com website, and recommends best books for kids grouped by age level. The site also includes links to Reading Resources, Storytelling Resources, and Reading Lessons.

4Teachers.org
4Teachers.org is a free, multifaceted site that includes a variety of fast, easy-to-use tools for teachers and students. Among the website's offerings are the popular RubiStar and QuizStar, as well as links to professional development research and WebQuests. A separate registration is required for each Star tool.

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RAPSA LOGIN DIRECTIONS

1. Go to www.rapsa.org and select “Register” in the Member Login section.

2. Under "Member Information" select "Free Membership".

3. Enter your information in the spaces provided.

4. A confirmation email containing your login information will be sent to you.

Time Out For Vocabulary
By Victoria Collins

Vocabulary refers to knowledge of word meanings. Our vocabulary is the words we understand. We can actually look at two types of vocabulary, oral and reading. We can define oral vocabulary as the words we can use and understand in speaking and listening and reading vocabulary as the store of words we recognize and understand in print. It is the knowledge or lack of that leads to our understanding of the term.
The question I hear often is why is teaching explicit vocabulary important?

Victoria Collins is currently an educational reading consultant who travels around the country assisting teachers and school districts with reading strategies. As a certified teacher in Florida and North Carolina, she has worked in elementary, middle and high school, teaching numerous subjects in each level, the last subject being Algebra in high school.

Voices From the Field

Ovon Pettaway, San Jose Job Corps Site Leader, defines what inspires him to teach and what he appreciates in life.

FIVE LESSONS LEARNED SINCE STUDENT TEACHING

1. That we in education have a duty to help students be life long learners who recognize their potential and develop a strategy to achieve for themselves, their communities and future generations.

2. That students come with many challenges, deficits, hurdles, strengths, and potentials and as educators we have to accept all of them and this and help them navigate those items that will impeded their learning and guide them towards those items that will help them be successful.

3. That not all students define success or failure equally and that each student has a definitive individual need that is constantly in flux with them, their future, and their environment.

4. That compassion, trust, honesty, integrity, forthrightness, consideration, tolerance, love and passion is part of the magic that gets students to learn.

5. Personal connections need to happen for learning to flourish! abulary refers to knowledge of word meanings. Our vocabulary is the words we understand. We can actually look at two types of vocabulary, oral and reading. We can define oral vocabulary as


CURRENT READING
The last book I read and currently still reading is “The Man with the Golden Torch” by Simon Green… I also read the “Secret” and it revealed a depth and compassion for living and lB#oving that is sublime.


TIME WITH FRIENDS
I just came back from vacationing in Rio de Janiero with my best friend. It showed me that even best friends get tired of each other and don’t always share everything in common and that even friendship has its limits on patience, tolerance and understanding. But it also showed me that true friendship can transcend those below surface things and that there is a much deeper and greater depth to true friendship.